Steeped in Internationalism

Angeline Apostolou ’15 climbs into a military submarine at a Greek naval base as part of a summer study-abroad excursion.

by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson

John Dickinson scholar Angeline Apostolou ’15 loves Greek dance and culture and has
long been fascinated by the issues surrounding the Turkish occupation of Cyprus
and subsequent Cyprian reunification efforts. She’s also a self-professed
“American-history nerd” with a soft spot for stories about America’s
founding and struggle for independence. This interest in national and international
tensions and affairs led her to pursue a degree in international studies and a certificate in security studies. And while she hasn’t yet decided on her final career
destination, she does know that she will spend some time exploring the globe.

Dickinson
was the last college I visited, and after taking a tour and learning more about
the school and all the opportunities here I fell in love. It sounds cliché, but
I did have that moment during the visit when I knew this was the right place
for me.

Favorite place on campus:

The
Clarke Forum building.

On choosing a major:

Growing
up as a Cypriot American, I’ve been aware of the issues surrounding the Turkish
occupation of northern Cyprus and subsequent push for reunification. That got
me thinking about politics and international relations.

Favorite book:

The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind.

Favorite movie:

1776.

Favorite class or learning
experience:

This
is such a hard question, because I have loved a lot of classes I’ve taken here.
But if I had to pick one from last semester, I would have to say it was my
U.S. history class with Professor [Emily] Pawley. It satisfied my inner American history nerd, and it was just so
fascinating. My favorite learning experience would be, hands down, working at
the Clarke Forum. I have gained so many workplace skills, and I have also
learned a lot from handling and attending different events.

If I could have
dinner with anyone, living or dead, it would be:

John and Abigail
Adams.

On studying abroad:

I am in Cameroon
this semester, and last summer I participated in a mini-study-abroad experience
through the American Hellenic Institute in D.C. Every summer they host a
two-week foreign-policy study trip to Greece and Cyprus, and I got to learn
about key domestic and foreign-policy issues affecting these two countries and
their relations with the United States, so I got to see firsthand some of the issues and concepts I had learned in
the classroom and to talk with officials who handle these issues on a daily
basis.

As a kid, I wanted to be . .
.

. .
. a princess, probably. But I thought I
would actually be a pediatric cardiologist.

Favorite Dining Hall food:

Broccoli-cheddar
soup in a bread bowl from the Kove. I always wake up for that on Sunday
morning.

Most important thing I’ve
learned so far:

That
grades are just numbers and letters that a professor is required to assign you.
What’s really important is the knowledge you take away from your courses and
the way you use it to better your skill set.

Little-known hobbies/talents:

I
love to bake. And I love Greek folk dancing.

In a perfect world . . .

. .
. everything would probably be a little boring and my major might become
irrelevant, as awful as that sounds. But in a perfect world everyone would be a
little more considerate.

Post-Dickinson plans:

So
far my list contains the typical international-studies major things, like different agencies at the
State Department, the U.N., IGOs, NGOs and intelligence analysis. I would love
to live in D.C., and I know I definitely want to be living abroad at some
point. That is a must.